Requesting criticism here in the Open Forum is like walking into a house that is fully engulfed in flames and making a request to get burned. It's going to happen whether the request is made or not.
Turtle's comment in this thread about a recently published book about expediting got me thinking. Being in the early stages of writing such a book myself, I'd rather take the heat now, when I can do something about it, than after it is published and little can be done to improve the product. Thus my request for constructive criticism.
My intent is to write the book that Diane and I would have liked to have when we, then non-truckers, got bit by the trucking bug, discovered expediting and began our research. The book is being written with the expediter wannabee in mind (including experienced truckers) but will include information that expediters of all experience levels can use.
Below is an excerpt from the draft that lays out my plan for the book. Your comments and suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance for your responses.
How to Use This Book
If you are thinking about becoming a self-employed expediter or you are one now, you are already thinking like an entrepreneur and don’t need me to tell you how to use this book. You are going to use it in whatever way you think best.
Successful entrepreneurs are that way. They think for themselves, chart their own course and independently act. I am assuming that you, dear reader, are one such person. That said, allow me to introduce this book to you.
Each chapter stands on its own. If you view the table of contents and turn to the chapter that most interests you, you won’t miss a thing by skipping the previous chapters.
If you are new to expediting and know little about it, chapter one, “Introduction to Expediting,” is for you. It provides an overview that will make the rest of this book easier to grasp.
You can, of course, read this book the old-fashioned way; start at the beginning and read to the end. If you do that, note that the book is organized into seven major themes:
Part one is introductory. It sets the stage with the page you are reading now and an introduction to expediting.
Part two is about you — you the expediter. It will help you answer the question, "What kind of expediter do you want to be?"
Part three picks up where “Introduction to Expediting” left off, saying more about the players in the expedite game (customers, carriers, brokers, load board operators, fleet owners, owner-operators, drivers, vendors and industry organizations).
Part four presents business how-to information; how to write a business plan and how to keep score.
Part five is about the trucks expediters drive and about maintaining your truck, the truck you rely on for so very much.
Part six gets into the nitty gritty — the stuff expediters deal with day-to-day.
Part seven is about the camping trip, the fun expediters have on the road and the camaraderie they enjoy.
The appendix includes a history of expediting, articles about certain aspects of the expediting industry, resources you can use and sample documents that support certain chapters.
The glossary will help you understand the vocabulary of the trade, including trucker slang.
An index is provided for your convenience.
Turtle's comment in this thread about a recently published book about expediting got me thinking. Being in the early stages of writing such a book myself, I'd rather take the heat now, when I can do something about it, than after it is published and little can be done to improve the product. Thus my request for constructive criticism.
My intent is to write the book that Diane and I would have liked to have when we, then non-truckers, got bit by the trucking bug, discovered expediting and began our research. The book is being written with the expediter wannabee in mind (including experienced truckers) but will include information that expediters of all experience levels can use.
Below is an excerpt from the draft that lays out my plan for the book. Your comments and suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance for your responses.
How to Use This Book
If you are thinking about becoming a self-employed expediter or you are one now, you are already thinking like an entrepreneur and don’t need me to tell you how to use this book. You are going to use it in whatever way you think best.
Successful entrepreneurs are that way. They think for themselves, chart their own course and independently act. I am assuming that you, dear reader, are one such person. That said, allow me to introduce this book to you.
Each chapter stands on its own. If you view the table of contents and turn to the chapter that most interests you, you won’t miss a thing by skipping the previous chapters.
If you are new to expediting and know little about it, chapter one, “Introduction to Expediting,” is for you. It provides an overview that will make the rest of this book easier to grasp.
You can, of course, read this book the old-fashioned way; start at the beginning and read to the end. If you do that, note that the book is organized into seven major themes:
Part one is introductory. It sets the stage with the page you are reading now and an introduction to expediting.
Part two is about you — you the expediter. It will help you answer the question, "What kind of expediter do you want to be?"
Part three picks up where “Introduction to Expediting” left off, saying more about the players in the expedite game (customers, carriers, brokers, load board operators, fleet owners, owner-operators, drivers, vendors and industry organizations).
Part four presents business how-to information; how to write a business plan and how to keep score.
Part five is about the trucks expediters drive and about maintaining your truck, the truck you rely on for so very much.
Part six gets into the nitty gritty — the stuff expediters deal with day-to-day.
Part seven is about the camping trip, the fun expediters have on the road and the camaraderie they enjoy.
The appendix includes a history of expediting, articles about certain aspects of the expediting industry, resources you can use and sample documents that support certain chapters.
The glossary will help you understand the vocabulary of the trade, including trucker slang.
An index is provided for your convenience.
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